Etext by Dagny
Etext by Dagny
This Etext is for private use only. No republication for profit in print or other media may be made without the express consent of the Copyright Holder. The Copyright Holder is especially concerned about performance rights in any media on stage, cinema, or television, or audio or any other media, including readings for which an entrance fee or the like is charge. Permissions should be addressed to: Frank Morlock, 6006 Greenbelt Rd, #312, Greenbelt, MD 20770, USA or frankmorlock@msn.com. Other works by this author may be found at http://www.cadytech.com/dumas/personnage.asp?key=130
C 1965
Marlow is seated with his friends at a table on the audience's left. To the right of the stage is a dais for the three judges and a witness booth. There are seats for the spectators. Where Marlow is, however, there is a suggestion of a balcony and palm trees. Marlow is a man in his mid-fifties. When he talks about the past he gets up and walks across the stage to the courtroom and sits as a spectator. The courtroom area remains dark until Marlow walks into it. When he does walk into it, the balcony area becomes dark.
Marlow (to his friend)
It was a truly strange case.
Guest
Tell us.
Marlow
It happened this way.
(Marlow rises and moves into the courtroom.)
Examiner
Do you know where the other officers of the Patna may be?
Jim
The engineer is dead.
Examiner
I know that. I was referring to the others.
Jim
No.
Examiner
They are summoned to appear or forfeit their licenses. Do you know
why they might not wish to testify?
Jim
That's obvious, isn't it?
Examiner
This is hot a criminal prosecution.
Jim
Still, it is a disgrace.
Examiner
Then, why are you here? It's embarrassing for you, too, isn't it?
Jim
Yes, but I must see it through.
Examiner
I want you to realize that I am only here to get the truth. I have
no vendetta against anyone. I have no preconceptions. This is only a
hearing to determine if the officers' licenses should be cancelled. You
understand that?
Jim
Yes.
Examiner
I want you to think of me as your friend, not your enemy. May I
call you by your first name?
Jim
I don't object.
Examiner
Jim, is it? Were you the first mate, Jim?
Jim
No, I was the second mate.
Examiner
Now, will you tell us what happened on the Patna the night of the
disaster.
Jim
I was standing third watch. The rest of the crew was asleep or off
duty except for the Lascars. We were running smoothly over a calm sea.
Examiner
One moment. There were passengers on your ship?
Jim
Yes.
Examiner
How many?
Jim
Roughly eight hundred Indian Muslims making a pilgrimage to Mecca.
Examiner
That was just to set the record straight. Go ahead with your story.
Jim
Well, a short time later, we hit something. Whatever it was, it
pealed a good deal of the hull right off, just like the skin off a
tangerine.
Examiner
Where was the captain, Jim?
Jim
The captain was arguing with the engineer. The captain was in his
underwear. They had both been drinking.
Examiner
What was the argument about?
Jim
The captain was a German.
Examiner
We know that. Just tell us what brought on the argumetn.
Jim
It was a drunken squabble.
(Enter the captain and the engineer on the raised part of the
stage.)
Captain
Where did you get that drink?
Engineer
Drink? Not from you, captain, that's for sure. You're far too
stingy. You'd sooner see a man dead than spare him a drop of your
precious schnapps. That's what you Germans call economy. Penny wise;
pound foolish. (shouting) I only had one. So help me!
Captain
You're drunk, du schwein.
Engineer (drunkenly)
Who's drunk? Me! Oh no, no, captain, that won't do. Not on your
rations. I've never been drunk in my life. Nothing comes out of a
bottle that can make me drunk! I can drink you and the rest of the crew
under the table and still be sober. If I thought I was drunk, you know
what I'd do? I'd jump overboard. You know why? Because I don't like you
any better than those dirty little niggers.
Captain
You deserve a good sound beating.
Engineer
I'm not afraid of you. It's a good thing for you that there are
people in this world who are afraid of their own shadows. Where would
you be if these—
(The captain pushes the engineer, calling him “schwein.” There is a
sudden crashing thud. Suddenly the captain and the engineer fade out
and we are with Jim again on the main platform.)
Examiner
So you concluded then that you had collided with something afloat.
What was it? A waterlogged wreck?
Jim
I don't know.
Examiner
Did your captain give you any orders?
Jim
Yes. He said to call us one by one and make no noise for fear of
creating a panic among the passengers. I thought it was a very
reasonable precaution.
Examiner
Yes. I'm sure you thought so.
Jim
I took one of the lamps that hung under the awnings and went
forward. I climbed down the foredeck and saw it was more than half full
of water already. I knew there must be a big hole somewhere below the
waterline
Examiner
Yes, yes. So, you knew there was a hole? Then what did you do? Were
you afraid, Jim?
Jim (loudly)
No. No. I wasn't afraid. (pause) I didn't even think of danger. I
might have been startled, that's all. All this happened so quickly. And
then, everything was so quiet.
Examiner
Go on.
Jim
I knew there was no other bulkhead, but the collision separating
the forepack from the forehold.
Examiner
Try to tell me step by step.
Jim
Before I got there, I met the engineer at the foot of the bridge
ladder. He was dazed. He said he had slipped on the ladder and broken
his left arm. He was afraid the bulkhead would give way and that we
would sink immediately. I didn't have much better hope. He told me the
ship was unseaworthy. Then he shoved by me and ran back up the ladder
shouting to the captain. I followed him. The captain knocked him flat
on his face. He only hit him once. Then he hissed at him: “Get up.
Block the skylight.” The engineer cursed and did as he was told.
Examiner
What was the purpose of this?
Jim
The engine room connected with the passenger deck. If the skylight
was blocked they couldn't reach the bridge except by the main ladder.
Examiner
You mean, then, that there was an attempt to imprison the
passengers?
Jim
Yes.
Examiner
Wasn't that pretty close to attempted murder? How many passengers
were there again?
Jim
Eight hundred.
Examiner
And how many life boats?
Jim
Seven. Not enough. Not nearly enough. The ship was not prepared for
an emergency.
Examiner
Was it then that the life boats were loosed?
Jim
I was coming to that. No, it wasn't then. I went back to the
bulkhead. The captain ordered me to look again. I think now that he
wanted me out of the way. But it didn't occur to me then.
Examiner
Oh, I see. It didn't occur to you then what he had in mind. Very
well. You went back?
Jim
Yes. The bulkhead was bulging! Bulging, I tell you. And there was
steam escaping from the pipes. I didn't think that anything could be
done. I expected to go momentarily. I was sure we were going to sink.
Examiner
And what did you do?
Jim
For a while I just stood there staring. What was there to do but
wait? The boats couldn't carry even a hundred. No, not even jammed. If
I had roused the passengers, assuming there was time to do it, the
panic might have taken any chance we had. We don't know how to handle
these natives in an emergency. They're quite strange.
Examiner
Yes, yes. That's quite so, quite so. Now, you did not at that
moment loose the life boats?
Jim
No, I went back on deck.
Examiner
Why didn't you warn them then?
Judge
Just one moment. I don't think that you need to answer that
question.
Jim
I don't object to answering the question.
Examiner
This is not a criminal prosecution.
Judge
It might lead to a criminal prosecution. I advise you of your right
not to answer the question.
Jim
I wish to answer the question. I didn't know what to do. The
situation was such that any effort we could have made would have been
useless.
Examiner
But there were no efforts made, were there? You're sure you weren't
afraid?
Jim
No. I am ready to swear I was not afraid.
Examiner
I didn't ask you that. What did you do, since you weren't afraid?
Jim
I went back to see the captain. I had to go through the passenger
section. They were asleep. Stepping over one sleeping fellow, I
accidentally roused him. He clung to me.
Examiner
And?
Jim
I fought him off. I had to knock him out.
Examiner
You had to knock him out?
Jim
Yes. He was sick. He wanted water. I couldn't get free of him. He
had hold of my leg. I had to hit him.
Examiner
And, you were never afraid all this time? Not once?
Jim
No, I was not afraid.
Examiner
Of course you weren't.
Jim
I was trying to get to the boats; I was going to free them. That
was my only thought.
Examiner
So, you decided to save the lives of some at least.
Jim
Yes, some of the passengers' lives.
Examiner
All right. Go on.
Jim
As I was clinging to the bridge, the engineer tried to hit me with
a monkey wrench. I was going to hit him, but he said he thought I was
one of the niggers. The captain was busy about one of the boats. He
shouted to me and then came charging at me. I wasn't afraid of him. I
just stood there and was ready to defend myself.
Examiner
You seem to have been engaged in quite a bit of—
Jim
All he said was: “Oh, it's you. Lend a hand.” I was ready enough
until I knew what it was I was to help with. I asked him if he was
going to do it. He said: “Yes, clear out.” I really don't think I
understood him at first.
Examiner
No doubt his English was poor.
Jim
I was nearly out of my mind with worry.
Examiner
What was your reaction?
Jim
I did nothing. I didn't move. I didn't speak. I just looked. The
ship was beginning to list slightly. I thought perhaps we might shore
up the bulkhead. But it seemed useless, so I stood there, staring.
Examiner
In other words, you froze?
Jim
I wouldn't put it that way. I just didn't know what to do. Then,
finally—
Examiner
You decided to pitch in?
Jim
No, I didn't. The engineer and the captain were trying to launch a
life boat. They weren't able to work together. They were both
terrified. The captain called me to help.
(Silence. The captain appears on the upper stage again.)
Captain
Come and help, man! Are you mad to throw away your only chance?
Come and help! Why don't you come, you miserable coward? If I had time,
I'd crack your skull for you. Won't you save your own life?
Jim
He called me a coward. Isn't that funny?
(Silence.)
Jim (to the court)
I saw a squall rising behind us. Big, black. Black! Black! And I
knew we were all going to die.
Engineer (screaming at Jim)
Why don't you help? You, you're the biggest. You're the strongest.
Why don't you help us?
Jim
Suddenly I rushed under the boat and cut it free. Then I cut all
the other boats free. I did this as fast as I could.
Engineer
You silly fool. Do you think those niggers will give you a chance?
They'll kill us all.
Examiner
So, you helped them after all?
Jim
No. I did the only thing there was to do. I loosed the boats. Then
I waited.
Examiner
What did you wait for?
Jim
I don't know.
Examiner
So you did nothing?
Jim (flatly)
I did nothing.
Examiner
Meanwhile, the captain and the first mate managed to launch the
boat. And you still hadn't made up your mind to go with them?
Jim
No. I kept apart. I tried to maintain a certain distance from the
others. I couldn't stop them all from what they were doing, but I had
no intention of participating in it. It was a shameful thing to do.
Examiner
Then, why is it, can you explain, that you wound up in that little
boat?
(The captain appears again.)
Captain
Shove! Shove for your life. The squall will be on us in a second.
Jim (turns to the court)
I decided to walk back to the passenger deck. I don't know what my
purpose was. I stumbled over the legs of the engineer. He must have
fallen.
(The captain and first mate come onto the second level. They are now
in the life boat.)
Jim
They called to the engineer. In the dark, they took me for him.
First Mate
George, Jamy.
Captain
The squall, mein Gott!
First Mate
Shove off. We can't wait any longer. She's going down.
Jim
And I jumped.
Judge
You may step down.
Examiner
I call as the next witness Lieutenant Lafarge of the Victorieuse.
(Lafarge goes to the stand) Would you please identify yourself?
Lafarge
I am Lieutenant Armand Lafarge of the Victorieuse. She is a
gunboat. A very pretty little craft. Very pretty. Tres coquette.
Examiner
Would you tell us what happened on the morning after the events
described by the last witness?
Lafarge
Oui, monsieur. At about 0900 hours we were bound for Reunion. We
sighted the Patna floating dangerously by the head.
Examiner
How did you know anything was wrong?
Lafarge
There was an ensign union down flying from her main gaff. The
sarang had apparently the sense to signal distress. When we got closer
we saw the decks were packed like a sheep pen. There were Indians
jammed along the bridge and rails in a solid mass. Hundreds of eyes
stared at us and yet not a sound was made. We hailed, but got no
intelligible reply.
Examiner
Did you board immediately?
Lafarge
No, monsieur. We, afraid of plague, looked them over for some time
through binoculars. The captain decided to send a boat.
Examiner
You were on the boarding party?
Lafarge
I was sent aboard. We found out little from the sarang and tried to
talk to an Arab. But we couldn't make head or tail out of it.
Examiner
You didn't understand?
Lafarge
It was the absence of a crew that startled us. Of course, the
nature of the emergency was obvious. We were also very struck by the
dead body of a white man lying on the bridge. In fact, fort intrigue
par cette cadavre.
Examiner
And there were no white officers aboard the ship?
Lafarge
No, monsieur. Impossible de comprendse vous concevez.
Judge
Will you please speak in English?
Lafarge
Oh, pardon, monsieur. We just didn't understand. The passengers
crowded around the dead man.
Examiner
Did you examine the body, Lieutenant Lafarge?
Lafarge
One had to attend to the most pressing problems. There people were
beginning to agitate themselves. Parbleu, a mob like that you don't
see.
Examiner
Back to the body. Was death natural, Lafarge?
Lafarge
Oui, monsieur. It appeared to be a heart attack.
Examiner
What then?
Lafarge
I checked the bulkhead. I advised my captain that the safest thing
to do was to leave it alone. It was a villainous thing.
Examiner
And you managed to save the ship?
Lafarge
We got two hawsers aboard and took the Patna in tow. That bulkhead
demanded the greatest care. The greatest care. We pulled it stem
foremost because the rudder was too much out of the water to be of any
use for steering. This maneuver eased the strain on the bulkhead.
Luckily the sea was calm. And there was no wind.
Examiner
What did you do then?
Lafarge
Why, we took the Patna to the nearest port, naturalmente, where the
responsibility ceased, dieu merci. Mind you, all the time we were
towing we had two men stationed at the tow lines to cut the ship free
in the event that—(he gestures)
Examiner
You remained aboard, however?
Lafarge
I was aboard that Patna with two men for thirty hours. That
miserable Patna. I think it was unworthy to dignify by the name of
ship. Thirty hours!
Examiner
Was the ship seaworthy, in your opinion before the mishap?
Lafarge
No. It was judged proper that one of our officers should remain and
keep an eye open and communicate by signals with Victorieuse, do you
see. We took measures. It was a delicate position and no wine,
monsieur. For thirty hours. Not a drop. And for me, you know, when it
comes to eating without my wine, I am nowhere. (gestures again,
laughter) But we reached port without an incident.
Examiner
At the port, everyone behaved quite calmly?
Lafarge
One might have thought they had such a droll find brought to them
every day. It was curious, that dead man.
Examiner
And there were living men, too? Much more curious.
Lafarge
The devil, bah! Very interesting, that is it. That is it
Examiner
What are you referring to?
Lafarge
That young man who just testified, who got himself mixed up with
those others. After all, one does not die of it.
Examiner
Die of what?
Lafarge
Of being afraid. One is always afraid, monsieur. Always one may
talk, but the fear, the fear, look you, is always there. (he slaps his
chest like Jim) Yes, monsieur. One talks, one talks. But in the end,
one is no cleverer than the next man and no more brave. Brave, this is
always to be seen. I have rolled my hump in all corners of the world. I
have known famous men, brave men. Brave, vous concevez. In the service,
one has got to be. The trade demands it. Well, eh bien, each of them, I
say, each of them. If he were an honest man, bien entendu, would admit,
there is a point where you let go everything. You have got to live with
that truth, do you see? Given a certain combination of circumstances,
the fear is sure to come. Abominable, but true. And even for those who
do not believe this truth, there is fear also. The fear of themselves.
Absolutely so, sir, trust me. Trust me. Take me, for instance. I have
had my proofs. Eh bien, I who am speaking to you. No, no, one does not
die of it.
Examiner
You think cowardice is natural to man?
Lafarge
That is so, monsieur. Man is born a coward. It is difficult. It
would be easy otherwise. The example of others, one puts up with it.
And the fact that others are no better than yourself. That young man,
you will observe, had all of these inducements. We may have had the
best dispositions, the very best dispositions.
Examiner
I am glad to see someone takes a lenient view.
Lafarge
Pardon, allow me. I continued that one may get on very well knowing
that one's courage does not come of itself. One truth the more ought
not to make life impossible. There is nothing much in that. But the
honor. The honor, monsieur. That is real. And what life may be worth,
when the honor is gone, ah, par example, I can offer no opinion,
because I know nothing of it, monsieur. I do not think of it.
Examiner
It is good that you do not have to. Thank you very much,
lieutenant. You may step down.
Judge
This inquiry is adjourned until tomorrow at eleven. You may rise.
Bailiff
All stand.
(Judges rise. One Judge approaches Marlow.)
One of the Spectators
You know that was a strange thing. Not being able to see the ship.
No lights.
Another Spectator
But, of course, he would lie.
Brierly (walking up to Marlow)
Ah, Marlow, you here.
Marlow
I didn't expect to see you as judge, Brierly.
Brierly
They caught me for it, you see. Very inconvenient for me and God
knows how long it will last. Three days, I suppose.
Marlow
Rotten, isn't it?
Brierly
Gad, what's the use of it? It's the stupidest thing imaginable. It
makes me feel a fool.
Marlow
What option is there?
Brierly
Why do we have to torment that boy?
Marlow
I don't know. Unless it's that he lets you.
Brierly
I suppose that's it. Can't he see that dirty captain of his has
cleared out. Nothing can save the boy. He'll lose his license. He's
damned lucky no prosecution will follow. But he's all washed up as a
seaman. Why eat all that crap?
Marlow
Well, we know that that captain has feathered his nest pretty well.
He can procure almost any means of getting away. With this fellow Jim
it's not such an easy matter. The government's keeping him in the
sailors' home for the time being and he probably hasn't the money to
run. It costs money to run away.
Brierly
Does it? Not always. (laughs) Well then, why doesn't he just dig a
hole for himself and stay there? He could, for all I care.
Marlow
You must give him credit for a kind of courage in facing it out,
knowing that he could run away and no one would bother to run after
him.
Brierly
Courage be damned! That sort of courage is of no use to keep a man
straight. I don't give a damn for courage like that. If you were to say
it is a kind of cowardice, of softness, ah—I tell you what! I'll put
up two hundred rupees if you'll put up another hundred and undertake to
make that beggar clear out tonight, before he takes the stand again.
Marlow
The fellow's a gentleman.
Brierly
If he is, he'll understand. He must. The publicity is too shocking.
He sits there with all these confounded natives, lascars, frenchies,
Hindus and God knows what kind of aborigines looking on and gives
evidence that's enough to burn a man to ashes with shame. It's
abominable. Why, Marlow, don't you see, don't you feel this is an
abomination? Now, come, as a seaman, don't you? If he went away all
this would stop at once. The inquiry would be closed and all this would
be over with.
Marlow
And what does the cowardice of all these men matter, really?
They're just four men.
Brierly
And you call yourself a seaman, I suppose?
Marlow
That's what I call myself, and I hope I am one, too.
Brierly
Balls! You have no sense of dignity. You don't think enough of what
you are supposed to be.
Marlow
And, what are we supposed to be?
Brierly
Men. It's a disgrace. We've got all kinds among us. Some
scoundrels, yes. But damn it, we've got to preserve our professional
dignity, or we're no better than a gang of pirates. We are trusted.
Don't you understand? Trusted. Frankly, I don't care a damn for all
those Hindus on that boat. But a decent man would not have behaved like
this to a cargo of rags and bales. We aren't an organized body of men,
and the only thing that holds us together is just our name and
reputation for dignity and decency. Pride. An affair like this destroys
confidence that people have in us. What's worse, it destroys our
confidence in ourselves. You may go through your entire life on the sea
with no occasion to show your stuff, but if the time comes, and you
don't, if—(breaks off) I'll give you two hundred rupees, Marlow. You
just talk that chap into leaving. Fact is, I think my family actually
knows his. His father's a parson; yes, in fact, I've met him. It's
horrible. I can't do it myself, but if you—ah—
Marlow
I'm not going to meddle in this. I don't know what you take me for.
I'm not a bag man, or whatever you may think I am.
Brierly
Oh well, forget it. I suppose you're right.
(They begin to leave the courtroom. A dog is noticeable in the
doorway frame.)
Marlow
Watch out for that cur.
(Brierly and Marlow separate.)
Brierly
I suppose you'll be here tomorrow?
Marlow
Yes, I think so.
Brierly
Well, till then.
Jim (evenly but menacingly)
Did you speak to me, sir?
Marlow
No.
Jim
You say no. But I heard.
Marlow
There must be some mistake. As far as I know, I haven't opened my
mouth in front of you.
Jim
What did you mean by staring at me all this morning?
Marlow
Did you expect everyone to bow his head out of respect for your
feelings?
Jim
No, that's all right. Only, only, I won't let any man call me names
outside this court. There was someone with you.
Marlow
Yes. The chief judge. Captain Brierly.
Jim
You spoke to him. Yes, I know it's all very fine. You spoke to him.
But you meant me to hear.
Marlow
I assure you, you are mistaken. I have no idea how you could fancy
I was speaking of you.
Jim
You thought I would be afraid to resent this. If you were twice
your size I would tell you what I think of you. You—
Marlow
Stop. Now, just what am I supposed to have said? Tell me.
Jim
I will show you that I am not.
Marlow
What the hell are you talking about? You don't make sense.
Jim
Now that you see I am not afraid, you try to weasel out of it.
Who's a cur now—eh? I will allow no man—
Marlow
You don't think I was talking about you, do you?
Jim
I am sure I heard—
Marlow
Don't be a fool. Look.
Jim
But, I heard—
Marlow
Look.
(Jim sees the dog.)
Jim
Oh God! (voice breaking) I'm sorry. My mistake entirely. You'll
forgive me.
(Jim starts to rush away.)
Marlow
Don't go like that.
Jim
You understand. All these people staring at me, I'm very sorry. I'm
sure that others have been saying it or thinking it. And, and I just
can't put up with it. And I don't intend to. In court it's different.
I've got to stand that. I will do it.
Marlow
Now look, why don't you come and have a drink with me at my hotel?
Jim
Thank you. But—
Marlow
I insist.
(Marlow leaves Jim and walks to the table at the audience's left and
sits with his friends.)
Marlow
Ah. And so, you see that's how it was, how I met him. And then I
invited him to my club! And we talked for a while and he told me his
story.
(The stage darkens completely. When the lights go up the guests are
gone and Marlow and Jim are together. The guests are walking in the
background of the veranda.)
Jim
It's very kind of you to listen to all this. You don't know what it
means to me.
Marlow
It must be awfully hard.
Jim
It's hell. I couldn't clear out. The skipper did that. It's well
enough in his case. I couldn't and I wouldn't. It wouldn't do for me.
You see, my father really believed in me. He fancied me as a sailor. By
now it's in the London papers and he's seen it. I can never face him
again. I could never explain. He wouldn't understand.
Marlow
What will you do?
Jim
I don't know. I don't know where to turn. My license will be
cancelled, of course. I don't know anything else but sailoring and I've
no money. Maybe I could become a quartermaster?
Marlow
Do you think you would?
(Jim gets up and walks to the veranda railing.)
Jim
Why the hell did you have to say that? You've been very
understanding up to now. If I hadn't made that mistake, you know.
(laughs)
Marlow
That mistake is no laughing matter to me.
Jim
That doesn't mean for one minute that I admit the cap fits.
Marlow
No?
Jim
No! (pause) Do you know what you would have done? Do you? And you
don't think yourself a cur? (pause) Don't you see it's all in being
ready? I wasn't. Not then. I don't mean to rationalize it or excuse
myself. I'd just like someone to understand. You. Why not you?
Marlow
I'm trying.
Jim (bursting out)
My God, what a chance I missed.
Marlow
If you has stuck to the ship you mean. Yes, it's too bad you didn't
know beforehand.
Jim
God damn it! I tell you there was nothing I could do. I was not
afraid of death. Do you believe that?
Marlow
Yes. I do. But the emergency did frighten you. After all it's
always the unexpected that happens.
Jim
Damn! And you know that goddam German called me a coward; it really
makes me laugh.
(Jim laughs loudly.)
Marlow
You mustn't laugh that way with all these people about.
Jim
Oh, they'll think I'm drunk. What would you have done? You're so
sure of yourself, now aren't you? What would you do if this veranda
started to move. Just move a little under you. You'd leap into the
jungle. You know you would. In one leap into those bushes.
Marlow (looking)
Well, I think I'd fall short by several feet, as far as that
goes.— How did that fellow die, Jim? The engineer?
Jim
I don't know for sure. He'd been sickly. He may have had a weak
heart. (laughs) It's easy to see he didn't want to die, either. Droll,
isn't it? I'll be damned if he wasn't fooled into killing himself.
Fooled. No more, no less. Just as I—Oh, if I had only stayed put with
my hands in my pocket.
Marlow
A chance missed, eh?
Jim
Why don't you laugh? It was a joke hatched in hell. A weak heart!
Sometimes I wish mine had been.
Marlow
Do you? I don't know what more you could wish for. (he pushes the
whisky to Jim) Won't you have some more?
Jim
Don't you think I can tell you what there is to tell without
liquor?
Marlow
I was only being polite. Well, go on.
Jim
When I landed in that boat they couldn't forgive me for it. They
hated me. They thought I was George. They were surprised all right.
(The captain and the two other men stand at a distance.)
Engineer (to Jim)
What the hell are you doing here? A gentleman? Too much of a
gentleman to lend a hand. Too dignified to participate in saving his
life. You finally came out of your trance, did you, you goddamn sneak?
You aren't fit to live.
Captain
Vell, vell, schwein. So you finally had the courage to jump? You
are not wanted here. Ve kindly request that you leave our ship the way
you came.
Engineer
What's to prevent us from tossing you overboard, you bastard?
Jim
Just try.
Captain
Too good for you.
Jim
I only wish they had tried.
Marlow
What an extraordinary affair.
Jim
Not bad, eh?
Captain
What did you do to George? Did you kill him? You rotten sneak.
Where is he?
Jim
How the hell should I know?
Captain
You murdering coward.
Jim
Shut up.
The others You killed him. You killed him.
Jim
No, but I'll kill you all if you don't shut up.
(Jim jumps up and they retreat.)
Engineer
You aren't going to hit a man with a broken arm, are you? You're no
gentleman.
(The captain lunges forward.)
Jim
Come on.
(The captain retreats. Then the captain and the engineer fade into
the night. Jim stands there waving his fists.)
Marlow
Steady. Steady.
Jim
What? Uh. I'm not excited. (realizing) Sorry. Clumsy of me. I dare
say I'm not as steady now as I was then. I was ready for anything.
Marlow
You had a lively time of it in that boat.
Jim
I was ready then. After the ship's lights disappeared anything
might have happened in that boat and the world no wiser. I felt it and
I was pleased. The feeling thrilled me. There was no law, no fear to
restrain me.
Marlow
Well, what happened?
Jim
Absolutely nothing. I meant business and they meant noise. Nothing
happened. I wouldn't let them near me for a while because I didn't
trust them. They started saying they didn't mean me any harm. I leave
it to you! No harm. What more could they have done to me? You do see
it, don't you? They were too much for me. Say something, will you?
Marlow
You've been sorely tried.
Jim
More than is fair. And then they wanted to get chummy. Make the
best of it. They didn't mean a damn thing. They misunderstood about
George. I was at the tiller you see, and they'd lost the rudder. It was
comic. They kept looking at the tiller and then at me. They were very
sorry. And pretty soon they were trying to think up a tale to tell
about what happened. I wasn't having any part of it. And yet, we were
all in the same boat.
(Jim paces up and down with his hands in his pockets.)
Jim
The captain said I'd die of the sun if I didn't watch out. I was
thinking about it.
Marlow
You mean to say, you'd been deliberating whether you would die?
Jim
Yes. It had come to that. Don't you believe it?
Marlow
Yes, I believe it. I believe almost anything you tell me.
Jim
You don't know what it means to me to be believed, to be able to
make a clean breast of it to an older man. It's so hard to understand.
It wasn't like a fight.
Marlow
That's for sure.
Jim
I was just uncertain what to do. If I had known. If there'd been
one thing, I could have done it. But there wasn't.
Marlow
Ah, yes. You were uncertain.
Jim
Well, there wasn't. There's a very fine line between the right and
wrong of this thing.
Marlow
That's true enough. How much more did you want?
Jim
Suppose I hadn't—I mean suppose I had stuck to the ship longer?
How much longer? Say a minute. If I hadn't jumped for the boat? If I
had waited a little longer until it seemed absolutely certain she was
going down and then jumped. That would have been all right. And then I
could have tried to save my life, and then it would have been all
right, wouldn't it?
Marlow
Yes, you could have saved yourself then. You'd have been saved.
Jim
Yes. But the truth is, I really wasn't thinking about saving myself
when I jumped. I just did it. Don't you believe me? You got me here to
talk. You said you would believe me.
Marlow
Of course, I do.
Jim
Forgive me. I would not have been able to say these things to you
if you were not a gentleman. And I am one, too. You still don't
understand why I didn't run away afterwards. Well, it's simple. I
wasn't going to be frightened of what I had done. Ashamed, yes. Not
frightened. My heart is not weak. (he thumps his chest)
Marlow
No.
Jim
If I had stuck to the ship, I would have done my best to be saved.
The line is so fine—between what I did and what I should have done.
Marlow
It's difficult to see a hair at midnight.
Jim
If I had—had wanted to run out on the ship, I could have. I could
have gone with the others, helped them, so forth. No one would have
known. That made it no easier. I didn't want all this talk. No one
could have made me talk. I'm not afraid to tell. I wasn't afraid to
think, either. I looked it in the face. I wasn't going to run away. At
first I might have. But I wasn't going to be like them. I had to live
the truth down, alone and by myself. A lie wouldn't help.
Marlow
What did it prove after all?
Jim
I was sick of life. But running was no way out. I believe it would
have ended in nothing. What do you believe?
Marlow
What will you do?
Jim
Wait for another chance.
Marlow
Another chance?
Jim
The boat picked us up before sunset. They lied. I said nothing.
Only I knew.
Marlow
You said nothing.
Jim
What was there to say? I was in the same boat with them. That's
what I had to live down. It was like cheating the dead.
Marlow
And there were no dead.
Jim
That doesn't matter.
Marlow
Perhaps not.
Jim
Dead or not, I couldn't get clear. I had to live, didn't I?
Marlow
Yes, if you take it that way.
Jim
The inquiry was a relief. I knew I had to face it out. I couldn't
hide and say nothing. And maybe forget it had ever happened. If only
there had been a light on that ship. If there had, I would have swum
back. Do you doubt it?
Marlow
No. Perhaps, if I gave you some money, you could make your way
somewhere else.
Jim
Alone, I could. But not until after the inquiry is over.
Marlow
My offer is unconditional. I neither demand nor expect any sort of
gratitude. You can repay me whenever convenient.
Jim
Very good of you. But I can't.
Marlow
I don't see what good there is in your staying here. Why lick the
dregs?
Jim
I'm damned if I know why I must. I've tried to tell you. But, after
all, it's my trouble. I jumped, but I don't know why.
Marlow
Better men than you have found it expedient to jump at times.
Jim
I'm not good enough to run. I've got to face it out. And I'm
fighting it now.
(There is silence for a while.)
Jim
I had no idea it was so late. You must have had enough of this and
so have I.
Marlow
What will you do afterwards?
Jim
Go to the dogs as likely as not.
Marlow
Remember, I'd like very much to see you again before you go.
Jim
Why not? This damned thing won't make me invisible. No such luck.
(Jim goes away. The guests return.)
Marlow
I could hear the gravel crunching under his feet. He was running,
absolutely running. Nowhere to go and he was not yet four and twenty.
He had confessed himself to me as if I could give absolution. Although
what good it would have done him, I can't see. This was a case which no
solemn deception could palliate. His maker had left him to his own
devices, stunned by the discovery he had made. The discovery about
himself. And he was trying to explain it to the only man capable of
appreciating it in all its tremendous magnitude, himself. He didn't try
to minimize its importance; therein lies his destruction. He stood
before me, hoping that age and wisdom could find a remedy against the
pain of truth. Oh, he was an imaginative beggar. He had no time to
regret what he had lost, he was so concerned over what he had failed to
obtain. It was tragic. And who was I to refuse him pity?
Guest
You are so subtle, Marlow.
Marlow
And all he needed was a fair chance. It was enormous. Enormous.
Since he had been so high he had been preparing himself for all
possible emergencies. He was ready to die. That is not very rare. But
it is rare to see a man willing to fight a losing battle to the very
end. In me he wanted an accomplice. I was being persuaded into
understanding the unconceivable. A very discomforting sensation. I
began to see the convention, the lie that lurks in all truth and the
essential sincerity of falsehood. It was strange, for despite it all,
he was one of us.
Guest
He took it to heart, then?
Marlow
Very much.
Guest
Then, he is no good. A man must see things exactly as they are or
give in at once. I made it a practice never to take anything to heart.
Marlow
Yes, you see things as they are.
Guest
What happened at the inquiry?
Marlow
There were several questions before the court. The court found the
Patna was unseaworthy. Yet it was declared that the ship was navigated
with good and seaman-like care. It was unable to arrive at a cause for
the accident. A derelict was suspected.
Guest
Did he keep his license?
Marlow
All licenses were cancelled.
Guest
What became of him?
Marlow
I got him a job with some friends of mine as a ship's chandler in
Bombay. That lasted for about six months. An unfortunate incident
occurred which made him leave his job.
Jim (shouting)
I couldn't stand his confounded impudence. I couldn't stand the
familiarity of the little beast. I had to leave!
Marlow (to Jim)
Just because that little engineer showed up in the same port, what
did it matter? He didn't bother you, did he?
Jim
Oh, no. He didn't tell his story or mine. He didn't accuse me. But
I couldn't stand being anywhere near him. So I gave your name for a
reference and now I'm with Egstrom A. Blake, Chandlers, in Calcutta.
Marlow (to guests)
And a few months later, we met. (to Jim) What have you got to say
for yourself?
Jim
What I wrote you in my letter, nothing more.
Marlow
Did the fellow blab?
Jim
Oh, no. He made it confidential between us. He was damnably
mysterious whenever he came around. He'd wink at me. Wink at me! And he
called me a gentleman. I had to leave.
Marlow (to guests)
And very soon his past caught up with him again and he moved on a
little bit further south. And a little bit further east. That was the
pattern that developed. It went on this way for about two years. I
decided I must do something to help him.
Guest
What did you do?
Marlow
I contacted an old friend named Stein. He ran a trading company
with posts in the interior of Borneo. This was Jim's great opportunity
to get away from his past forever. The time was to come when I should
see him loved, trusted, admired, with a legend of strength surrounding
his name like a Greek hero. He went native. He was to taste the joy of
it, but in the end to die of it. I don't mean to say that I regret my
action, yet the idea forces itself upon me that if he had not made so
much of his disgrace, it would have been his guilt alone that mattered.
A slightly coarser nature would not have noticed the disgrace. A
coarser one still would not have even felt the guilt.
Guest
So you contacted that man Stein?
(Marlow gets up. To the right of the stage, a small office and a
desk at which sits an old man.)
Stein
So you see me. So, only one specimen like this they have in your
London and then no more. (holds up a butterfly) To my small native town
this collection I shall bequeath. Something of me. The best.
Marlow
Marvelous. Marvelous. A masterpiece.
Stein
Look, the beauty. But that is nothing. Observe the accuracy, the
harmony. And so fragile, and so strong, and so exact. That is nature.
The balance of colossal forces. This wonder, this masterpiece of
nature, the great artist.
Marlow
I never heard an entomologist go on like this before. If this is a
masterpiece, what of man?
Stein
Man amazes, but he is not a masterpiece. Perhaps the artist was a
little mad, hmm, what do you think? Sometimes it seems to me that man
has come where he is not wanted. Where there is no place for him. For
if not, why should he desire everything, run about talking about the
stars, and disturbing the grass?
Marlow
And catching butterflies.
Stein
Exactly. Sit down. I captured this specimen myself one fine
morning. You can't bemoan the feeling. It was a long time ago, back in
Patusan. There was a great enemy of mine in those days. It was like
feudal times. He was a great noble and a greater rascal, roaming about
with a band of thugs. I left my home, cantering around for four or five
miles. There had been rain in the night. But the mists had gone up and
the face of the earth was clean. Suddenly somebody fired a volley of
shots at me. I hear the bullets sing in my ear and my hat jumps off my
head. This wanted a little management. I pretended to fall forward on
my horse, dead. I clutched the horse's mane. Quietly, I drew my
revolver. After all, there were only seven of these rascals. I slid
down from my horse. Soon they got up from the grass and started running
with their sarongs tucked up, waving spears and rifles, and yelling to
each other to catch the horse because I was dead. I let them come as
close as that door and then: Bang, bang, bang. I got three, the others
ran and I sat alone and looked at these three corpses. I observed a
shadow pass over the forehead of one of them. It was the shadow of
this. (gestures to the butterfly) Look at the form of the wing. This
species flies high. I lost him in the sun. I rise, revolver in hand.
Shading my eyes with the other hand, I approach. Carefully. Very, very
carefully. At last I find him alighting on a small heap of dirt. At
once my heart began to beat quick. This species flies high with a
strong flight. I saw him fluttering away; I think, is it possible? And
then I lose him. Holding my revolver and carrying my hat in my other
hand, I looked for him all over. At last I saw him about ten feet away.
At once my heart began to pound. One step, steady. Another step, plop,
I got him with my hat. I was shaking like a leaf: not from fear, but
from joy at having caught him. The perfect specimen. I had to sit down.
Yes, my good friend, on that day I wanted for nothing. Phoe. (blowing
out a match) The work is making great progress. I have this rare
specimen (gestures) and what is your good news?
Marlow
To tell the truth, I came here to describe a specimen.
Stein
A butterfly?
Marlow
Nothing so perfect. A man, of a sort.
Stein
Ah, so. Well, I am a man, too.
Marlow
I have a friend. He was the chief mate on the Patna.
Stein
Ah, the Patna. I have heard of that affair. Very interesting.
Marlow
He was not like the rest. He was one of us.
Stein
Ah, so.
Marlow
He believes himself capable of doing great things if he could only
make a fresh start.
Stein
A clean slate, did he say? As if each word of our destinies were
not graven in imperishable characters. He is romantic, I understand
very well.
Marlow
What is the remedy?
Stein
There is only one. One thing alone can save us from ourselves.
Marlow
Yes, the question is not the cure, but how to live.
Stein
How to be? Ah, how to be? We want in so many ways to be. This
magnificent butterfly finds a little heap of dirt and sits still on it,
but man on his little heap of mud will never be still on it. He wants
to be. And he wants to be so. He wants to be a saint and he wants to be
a devil. And every time he shuts his eyes he sees himself as a very
fine fellow—as fine as he can never be: in a dream. And because you
can't always keep your eyes shut there comes the real trouble. I tell
you, my friend, it is not good to find you cannot make your dream come
true for the reasons you are not strong enough or clever enough; ja,
all the time you are such a fine fellow, too? How can that be, hah? A
man that is falls into a dream like a man falling into the sea. And he
drown. No, I tell you the way is to the destructive element submit
yourself. That is how to be. I follow the dream. Tonight, you sleep.
And in the morning we shall do something practical. Practical. He is a
romantic. So romantic and that is very bad, but very good, too.
Marlow
But, is he?
Stein
Surely, by inward pain he knows himself. And that is what makes him
exist for you and me.
Marlow
Perhaps he is, but I am sure you are.
Stein
Well, I exist, too.
Marlow
Yes, and amongst other things you dreamed of a butterfly. But, when
one morning your dream came your way, you did not let the splendid
opportunity escape.
Stein
No, not that one. But, do you know how many others?
Marlow
But he did not catch this one.
Stein
Everyone has one or two like that. And that is the trouble. The
great trouble. So, sleep well, my friend, and tomorrow we must do
something practical. Practical.
Marlow
What do you have in mind?
Stein
I don't suppose you have ever heard of a place called Patusan? It
doesn't matter.
Marlow
That's where you came from, isn't it?
Stein
Yes, I dare say, I know more about Patusan than anyone else. Even
the government. It's a jungle, physical and moral. He won't mind a
jungle, so much the better for him. He wants a hole to hide in, no
better place. This man who runs my trading post there is a scoundrel.
His name is Cornelius. I only kept him there because of his wife who
was very dear to me. I kept him on because of her daughter, when she
died. It was her girl, not his. He insisted she call him father. It was
“a revenge” shall we say. But I can't keep him any longer.
Marlow
You think Jim would be suited for this?
Stein
That remains to be seen. I will give him a ring to my friend
Doramin who is a prince out there. He is my friend. He saved my life
and I saved his. He will do anything for me. The ring is a sort of
letter of introduction. I will also give him a letter to Cornelius.
This is all I will give him.
Marlow
Then, let me give him an old revolver of mine.
Stein
And now that we have done something practical tonight—let us go to
bed.
(Marlow walks back to the veranda and sits back among the guests.)
First Guest Well, then, what happened then?
Marlow
For several years I did not see him, but I heard of him.
Second Guest As he said you would.
Marlow
Yes. Indeed, after he arrived he soon became a legend. He became
the supreme ruler there. He was looked on as a god. He overcame
unbelievable odds, stripped the rajah of his power, and they loved him
for it. They loved him for it.
Second Guest Did you ever see him again?
Marlow
Yes. Several years later. I had received letters from him, but they
told little. I arrived on a hot tropical night after sailing inland on
a little schooner. These schooners came after Jim's arrival and because
of him. Before that it was worth your life to venture inland.
(Marlow gets up and walks back toward the right of the stage.)
CURTAIN
Stein's house has disappeared and has been replaced with a native hut, palm trees and a lush jungle background.
Marlow
Greetings, Jim. This is glorious.
Jim
Yes.
Marlow
You have had your opportunity!
Jim
Have I? Well, yes, I suppose so. I have got back my confidence in
myself. A good name. Yet, sometimes I wish—no. I'll hold what I've
got. I can't expect anything more. Not out here. This is my limit
because nothing less will do. Look at those houses. There's not one
where I am not trusted. I told you I would hang on. Ask anyone. I am
all right now.
Marlow
I was sure you would be.
Jim
Were you?
Marlow
Tell me all about it. I want to hear it from your own lips.
Jim
It's really quite simple. I paddled my way upstream till I got—oh,
down there a ways. Then I found myself surrounded by buggers. I called
them buggers then. Today, I call them my people. Frankly, I was scared.
It's a good thing I forgot to load your gun.
Marlow
Why?
Jim
Because I would have shot somebody and then it would have been all
over. So, I just stood still because I had to and told them to take me
to the rajah. Everyone admired my iron nerves. They were shocked and
did what I said.
Marlow
It was as simple as that?
Jim
Oh, no. They put me in that stockade over there. I was held
prisoner for three days.
Marlow
What then?
Jim
I decided I didn't like it up there too much and to make it to the
opposite bank. Which I did. I almost got killed, but I made it across.
Then I presented myself to Doramin with my ring.
Marlow
And?
Jim
And Doramin, with his son Dain Waris who is my dearest friend,
helped me to organize some resistance. So you know, in addition to the
rajah, there was a band of pirate Arabs holed up on that peak over
there. Doramin is chief of the immigrants from the Celebes. They're
civilized to an extent and reasonably friendly, about sixty families
with dependents. They muster about two hundred men. He's their chief.
Elected, you understand. The men are intelligent, a bit revengeful, yet
very courageous and loyal. Make a friend of them and they're yours for
life. They were opposed to the rajah. In a flash I understood that they
had to act unless they wanted to sink, one after another, between the
rajah and the Arab vagabonds. So, without the weight of Doramin's
authority and his son's fiery enthusiasm, I couldn't have succeeded.
Dain Waris was the first to believe in me. He persuaded his father. We
organized a party of fifty men and stormed the heights. Right up the
cliff. They never knew what hit them. We didn't lose a man. And
scattered the Arabs, killing maybe a dozen.
Marlow
You must have enjoyed it.
Jim
It was tremendous, spectacular, immense. Simply immense. You can't
imagine. Think what it is to me. And can you think I want to leave? It
would be harder than dying. Don't laugh. I feel every day that I am
trusted. That no one can—not for a minute—no one has a right—you
understand, of course.
Marlow
Stein intends that you should take over the post in your own right.
On any conditions that would make the transaction agreeable to you.
Jim
I really don't want to do that.
Marlow
You've earned it. Stein isn't making you a gift.
Jim
No, but, I'd rather just be his helper. I feel prouder of that.
Prouder than I would working for myself for some reason.
Marlow
But you really have to give in on this point, Jim.
Jim
I'll think about it; I'll write to Stein.
Marlow
Well, that's the best I can do for the present, I suppose.
(At this point natives start pouring in from all sides. Presently
the rajah appears amidst his court.)
Jim
Ah, the rajah has turned up for our monthly ceremony.
Marlow
Ceremony?
Jim
I drink tea with the rajah.
(A native passes tea from a samovar to the rajah and Jim. There are
mutual bows and exchanges of ceremonial affection. A cup is also
offered to Marlow.)
Jim
You needn't, really.
Marlow
You mean that—why do you expose yourself to such stupid risks?
(drinks)
Jim
It's the barest chance, you know. The barest chance. I really don't
think he would try to poison me.
(The rajah smiles and bows uncomprehendingly.)
Jim
I think he's altogether too scared for that.
Marlow
He's scared enough. Anyone can see that.
Jim
If I am to do any good here, and preserve my position, then I must
take the risk. I take tea with the rajah once a month at least, and
sometimes more often if the situation is troublesome. Many people trust
me to do that for them. You see, he is afraid of me, that's just it.
Most likely he is afraid of me because I am not afraid of his tea. Or
perhaps, I should say that while I am quite afraid of his tea, I drink
it anyway and don't show it.
(The ceremony ends abruptly. Almost as abruptly as it began. The
rajah and the natives withdraw.)
Jim
I always do it in public. It's no good if I do it in private. It's
a ritual of my power here.
Marlow
It's a bitter price to pay.
Jim
Oh, the tea is quite good, really. Let's forget that. Come, you
must meet Doramin and his wife. And Dain Waris. Then you shall meet
Jewel. Speak of the devil, here is Doramin now.
(Doramin is a massive old man, huge, corpulent, but dignified.)
Doramin
Ah, you are the friend of Tuan Jim. You must be my guest.
Marlow
It shall be my pleasure.
Jim
I must leave you anyway. You shall get acquainted.
(Jim goes.)
Doramin
It is good that there is such a man as Jim in these parts, in these
times. In the old days, I could use my strength, but now I have grown
old and tired. In Jim, I have unbounded confidence.
Marlow
I understand your son thinks very highly of Jim.
Doramin
Indeed he does. I have only one wish. And that is that Tuan Jim
would promise. One word would be enough.
Marlow
Promise what?
Doramin
Well. It is a subject difficult to speak of. I am anxious for the
future of my country and for the future of my son. The land remains
where God has put it, but white men come to us and go in a little
while. They go away. Those they leave behind do not know when to look
for their return. They go to their own land, their own people. And so,
this white man, too, will go away. I want him to designate Dain Waris,
my son, as the leader who will take his place. If he does not do so
before he goes, it may be difficult for Dain Waris to assert himself in
the future.
Marlow
You need not worry. Jim will never leave.
Doramin (strangely)
This is very good news, indeed, that you give to me. Why will he
never leave? Why has a man so young wandered so far from his home,
never to return, and gone through so many dangers? Not for the sake of
adventure alone. Has he no kinfolk there?
Marlow
He has a father.
Doramin
No other kinsmen?
Marlow
Brothers and sisters.
Doramin
Has he no position in his own country?
Marlow
No. That he has not. No, he will never, never leave.
(Jim returns. Doramin scrutinizes Jim as if seeing him for the first
time.)
Jim
Ah, I have finally found Jewel. She is waiting for you at the hut.
You must come and meet her.
Doramin
And then, you must come to see me, for I will be proud to entertain
you. I have many questions to ask you. Many questions. (exits)
Jim
Come and meet Jewel. You know, you probably won't understand this—
it's not what you're thinking.
Marlow
Have I said anything!
Jim
You're polite. But, you see, I'm—we're serious. I can't tell you
what I owe her. You see, I don't want you to think—to misunderstand
from appearances.
Marlow
I wasn't thinking anything. And, as for appearances—
Jim
Yes, yes, I know you're a very sophisticated man and all that, but
really, you can't understand quite what she means to me. That fellow
Cornelius who makes her call him father—he used to make her cry. And
he mismanaged the post, too. He's a sneak. He embezzled quite a bit
from Stein. I found out about it, of course. But there was no point in
reporting him. But he's been slinking around the house ever since. He
tries to make her call him father. When she wouldn't, he called her
mother a whore. Apparently she and Stein were lovers and Jewel is his
daughter. And Jewel wouldn't let me shut his mouth for him. Then one
night about a month after I became master here, he woke me up in the
middle of the night and told me there were men outside who wanted to
kill me. If I would give him $80.00 he'd get me out safe, “only eighty
dollars.” I told him to get out before I killed him. Then I went back
to sleep. Then Jewel woke me up. She led me out of the house and told
me there were men in the stockade waiting to kill me. She brought a
torch with her. They were inside the hut. She wanted me to run away,
but I wouldn't do it. I told her to go to Doramin, but she wouldn't do
that. I don't want to make it sound particularly heroic, but I think
they were more frightened of me than I was of them. Jewel wouldn't go.
When they heard me coming, they hid under some mats inside the storage
house. I told her to thrust her torch in the window, then I went in
with my pistol. I saw two right away and killed them and the other two
surrendered. You see now why I feel the way I do towards her. She had
watched all night, you know. She was very much in love with me. She's
necessary to my existence now. It's wonderful, but frightening, too.
Marlow
Don't hurt her.
Jim
I won't. I shall never leave. I have not forgotten why I came here.
Ask then here, who is just, who is true, who is to be trusted with
their lives, they will say Tuan Jim. And yet, they can never know the
real truth. (brightening) Come, I haven't done so badly?
Marlow
Not so badly at all.
Jim
But all the same, you wouldn't like to have me aboard your own
ship.
Marlow
Damn you, stop it.
Jim
You see. Only try to tell that to them. They'd call you a liar. And
so I can stand my knowledge of myself and your feelings for me because
of how they feel.
Marlow
For them you shall always remain an unsolvable mystery.
Jim
Mystery? Well then, let it be so. But a mystery that remains among
them. Besides, aren't all men mysteries?
(The scene darkens and Jim exits. Then Marlow enters alone, walks by
the hut. As he does so, he is stopped by Jewel, who puts her hand on
his arm and restrains him.)
Jewel
Do not take him away from me.
(Jewel's speech is stilted. Correct, but strongly accented.)
Marlow
I haven't come for that.
Jewel
Why did you come then?
Marlow
Friendship. To see him again. Business, too. I rather want him to
stay.
Jewel
They always leave us.
Marlow
Nothing will separate Jim from Patusan.
Jewel
He swore to me.
Marlow
Did you ask him to?
Jewel
Never! No, never. That night, that night. After I flung the torch
in the water because he was looking at me and the danger was over. He
promised me he would never abandon me. I asked him to leave me. He said
that he could not. That it was impossible. He trembled as he spoke. I
felt him tremble. I told him to leave me. I fell at his feet. He raised
me up. He lifted me up. And I could struggle no more. I did not want to
die weeping, therefore I wanted him to go.
Marlow
You did not want to die weeping?
Jewel
Like my mother. My mother wept bitterly before she died, for Mr.
Stein was not here. I was alone with her but Cornelius was outside
screaming to be let in. She screamed that he should not be let in. The
tears fell from her eyes and then she died.
(Suddenly Cornelius emerges from the shadows.)
Cornelius
Your mother was a devil. A deceitful devil, and you, too, are a
devil.
Jewel
Go away.
Cornelius
I am a respectable man. And what are you? Tell me. What are you?
What are you? You think I am going to bring up somebody's bastard and
not be treated with respect? You should be thankful that I let you
stay. Come say, “Yes, father.” No. You wait a while. I'll fix you yet.
Marlow
You get out of here and get out of here now.
Cornelius
Honorable sir, honorable sir, how was I to know? Who is he, what
could he do to make the people believe him? What did Mr. Stein mean,
sending me a boy like that to talk big to the natives and to talk like
that to me? Me, a trusted retainer. I was ready to save him for only
eighty dollars. Only eighty dollars. Why didn't the fool go? Was I to
run the risk of getting myself stabbed for the sake of a stranger
without being compensated. He groveled in the spirit before me with his
body. What's eighty dollars? An insignificant sum to give a defenseless
old man ruined for life by a dead bitch.
Marlow (making a threatening gesture)
I'll tell Jim about this, even if she won't. Now, get out of here.
(The girl tries to restrain him.)
Marlow
Don't let him bother you.
Jewel
He is of no consequence now. It is Jim with whom I am concerned.
And you must answer me. He swore he would never leave me. He swore to
me.
Marlow
And is it possible that you, you do not believe him?
Jewel
Other men have sworn the same thing to other women. My father did.
Marlow
Your father, too. Ah, but Jim is different, he is not like that.
Jewel
Why is Jim different, is he better?
Marlow
Yes. On my word, he is.
Jewel
Is he more true?
Marlow
Yes.
Jewel
More true than any other man?
Marlow
Nobody here would dream of doubting his word. Nobody would dare.
Except you.
Jewel
Is he more brave?
Marlow
Fear will never drive him away from you. Look, what has he been
telling you? He has told you something, hasn't he? What is it he told
you?
Jewel
Do you think I can tell you? How am I to know? There is something
he says he can never forget.
Marlow
So much the better for you.
Jewel
What is it? He says he has been afraid. How can I believe this? Am
I a mad insane woman to believe this? You all remember something. You
all go back to it. What is it? Will you tell me? What is this thing? Is
it alive? Is it dead? I hate it. It is cruel. Has it a face and voice,
this calamity?
Marlow
Calm yourself.
Jewel
Will he see it? Will he hear it? In his sleep, perhaps he cannot
see me. And then get up and walk out. I shall never forgive him. My
mother forgave, but I never will. Will it be a sign? A call? Will it be
another woman?
Marlow
There is no other woman for Jim but you, Jewel. You have nothing to
fear on that score. I don't believe a sign, a fear, a call, anything
can tear him from you. Nothing living or dead could tear him from your
side. Besides who would want to?
Jewel
That is what he told me.
Marlow
He told you the truth.
Jewel
Nothing? Then, why did you come to us from out there? He speaks of
you too often. You frighten me. Do you—do you want him?
Marlow
I shall never come again. And I don't want him. No one wants him.
Jewel
No one?
Marlow
No one. You believe him to be strong, wise, courageous, great. Why
don't you trust him, too? I will go away soon and that's the last
you'll ever see of me. No one from the outside will trouble you again.
The outside world, that you don't know, is too big to miss him. Don't
you understand? Too big. You've got his heart. You must feel that. You
must know that.
Jewel
Yes, I know he loves me. I know that.
Marlow
The outside world does not want him. Why don't you believe it?
Jewel
Why doesn't it want him? Why? Tell me! Why? Speak!
Marlow
You really want to know?
Jewel
Yes.
Marlow
Because he is not good enough.
Jewel
That is the very thing he said. You lie. You both lie.
Marlow
Hear me out. Nobody, nobody is good enough.
Jewel
I don't believe you. I don't trust you. I don't trust him.
(Jewel hurries away. Jim enters and spies her retreating figure.)
Jim
What, no lights? What are you doing in the dark, you two? Hello,
girl.
Jewel
Hello, boy.
(Jewel and Jim go off together. Marlow retreats.)
Jim
We'll see you later, Marlow.
(Cornelius stealthily reenters.)
Cornelius
Honorable sir. Honorable sir.
Marlow (furious)
What do you want? Why don't you just crawl back into the swamp?
Cornelius
I would have saved him, honorable sir. I would have saved him for
only eighty dollars.
Marlow
He saved himself without your help. He forgave you, so why don't
your forgive him.
(Cornelius starts to laugh.)
Marlow (irritated)
What are you laughing at?
Cornelius
Don't be deceived, honorable sir. He has saved himself. That's
good. He knows nothing. Nothing whatever. He is a fool. A big fool.
What does he know, honorable sir? He is no more than a little child.
Like a little child. A little child. Ah, honorable sir, I mean nothing.
My great misfortunes have overwhelmed me. Pay no attention to what I
say. I don't mean anything by it. Sir, you do not know what it is to be
ruined, broken down, trampled upon by a little slut.
Marlow
Shut your mouth.
Cornelius
If only he would make me an honorable, moderate provision,
honorable sir. A suitable compensation for all that he has taken away
from me. If you would only intercede on my behalf, honorable sir. Every
gentleman made a provision when the time came to go home.
Marlow
In this case, Mr. Cornelius, the time shall never come.
Cornelius
What?
Marlow
Why, haven't you heard him say so yourself? He will never go home.
Cornelius
Oh, this is too much. Never go. He? He who comes here, devil knows
from where, devil knows why, to trample on me till I die. Trample like
this. Patience. Patience. (laughs) We shall see. We shall see. He comes
here to steal from me. Everything, everything, everything. Just like
her mother. Exactly. And her face, too. In her face. The little bitch.
And he wasn't afraid. Ah, he is a little child. A little child, a
little child. (wanders off)
(The lights dim out completely. When they rise, Marlow is back with
is companions on the verandah.)
Marlow
And so. I lost him.
First Guest Did that little runty Cornelius do him in?
Marlow
No. But he figured in his downfall. I never saw Jim again. It all
happened very suddenly, as in a Greek tragedy. In one rotation of the
sun, he was at the peak of his power, and by nightfall he was a dead
man, ruined and disgraced.
Guest
What happened? How did you come to know of it?
Marlow
I learned about it later from Stein. The girl, Jewel, was there,
and Jim's servant Tam-iTam.
(At this point, Stein's study becomes visible on the right of the
stage and Tam-iTam, Jewel and Stein stand like a Greek chorus. Marlow
walks to them.)
Marlow
How did it happen?
Stein
You shall hear.
Tam-iTam
He would not fight.
Jewel
He was false.
Stein
No, no, no, my poor child. He was true, true, true. Not false. No.
No. You do not understand.
Jewel
What have I done?
Marlow
You always mistrusted him.
Jewel
He was like the others.
Stein
Terrible. Terrible. What can one do for her?
Jewel
I hate him.
Marlow
You must forgive him.
Stein
We all want to be forgiven.
Jewel
He shall have no tears from me. Not one tear. Never, never. I will
not. He left me as if I were worse than death. He fled as if driven by
some accursed thing he had heard in his sleep. He could see my face. He
was looking at me. He could hear my voice and hear my grief. And yet he
went. When I used to sit at his feet with my cheek against his knee and
his hand on my head the curse of cruelty and madness was already within
him waiting for the day and then the day came. Before the sun had set
he could not see me any more. He was made blind and deaf and without
pity. As you all are, you men. He shall have no tears from me.
(weeping)
Stein
Someday she will understand.
Marlow
Will you explain?
Cornelius (entering)
He was like a child. I told you that he was like a child, the fool.
Stein
It began when a man named Brown and a crew of cutthroats sailed up
the river. They were starving and fleeing from a Spanish patrol boat.
They were pirates. They had to have food. Jim was up country when they
arrived in their little canoe. About a dozen men. They stormed the
heights successfully.
Jewel
I told the people to attack. Dain Waris and I were ready to lead
the attack but Doramin said we must wait for Jim. I wanted to attack
them immediately. Oh, if only I had not listened.
Stein
Doramin feared for his son's life. So he waited for Jim.
Marlow
What happened when he arrived?
Stein
Before he got there Cornelius had made contact with Brown. That was
Jim's undoing.
(The scene blacks out. When the lights go up we are on the heights.
Brown, in command of his men, is standing on the ridge protected by a
rock. There is shouting.)
Cornelius (voice)
Let a man come see you, please. A poor ruined old man. A white man.
Brown
Come on, then. But come alone, mind. Come on, you're safe.
(Cornelius scurries up and bows to Brown.)
Cornelius
The rajah humbly requests that you explain why you are here,
honorable sir.
Brown
Well, you can tell him we've come for food—and anything else
around here wroth carrying off. And by God, we'll do it or die trying.
Now you go tell this to this rajah.
Cornelius
It is not the rajah who will make trouble for you, it is Lord Jim.
Brown
Jim? Who is this Jim? That's not enough for a man's name.
Cornelius
That's what they call him.
Brown
And who is he? What is he? Where does he come from? Is he an
Englishman?
Cornelius
Yes, yes, he's English, as I am. He is a fool, all you have to do
is kill him and then you are king here. Everything belongs to him. The
rajah will cooperate with you, I believe. But you must act before he
returns. Once he gets here, you're dead in the water.
Brown
I don't see why he can't be made to share with somebody here,
before too long.
Cornelius
No. No. The proper way is to kill him the first chance you get.
Then you can do what you like. I am an old man and have lived many
years. I give you a friend's advice. The rajah does not like Jim. He is
afraid of Jim, but as long as Jim is alive he will not aid you. If you
kill Jim, then he will aid you. He will bow down to you like he did to
Jim. He is a coward, that rajah.
(More gunfire. At least one of the defenders is killed. Another is
wounded and lies shrieking. Brown returns the fire, as do his men.)
Brown
Well, we got at least two of the buggers in return, but it is not a
fair match. They must be at least two hundred to one. Two hundred to
one. Listen, boys, strike terror. Terror, I tell you. Put the fear of
God in them. That will show them what we can do.
(There is more shooting. Suddenly the shooting on the other side
stops. Then Brown's men stop. A sudden silence.)
A Yankee It's unnotcheral.
Jim (voice)
Let no one fire. Do you hear, on the hill? Do you understand
English? Do you hear? Do you hear?
Cornelius
It's Lord Jim.
(Cornelius cowers with fear.)
Brown
I hear. Hold your fire, men. (to Cornelius) What does it mean? (to
Jim) Speak. We understand.
(The natives beat their drums.)
Brown
What's all that about?
Cornelius
They're rejoicing at his return. He is a very great man. But all
the same, he knows no more than a child. And so, they make a great
noise to please him and would you—
Brown
Look here. How is one to get at him?
Cornelius
What do you mean? Simplest thing in the world. He'll come strolling
over here to talk to you. Just like a fool. All you have to do is kill
him. You'll see. You'll see. He's not afraid. Not afraid of anything.
He will come and order you to leave his people alone. Everybody must
leave his people alone. He is like a little child. He will make
straight for you. Just kill him and you will frighten everybody so much
that you can do whatever you like. Tell that tall man there to kill
Jim.
Brown
Oh, shut the hell up.
(Jim comes, waving a white flag.)
Jim
Who are you?
Brown
My name is Brown. Captain Brown. Gentleman Brown. Who are you?
Jim
What made you come here?
Brown
Oh, you want to know? Well, it's no secret. Hunger. And what made
you?
Jim (blushing)
That's my affair.
Brown
My man has you covered. You can see that.
Jim
I see it. But you can never escape here if you kill me.
Brown
Let us agree that we are both dead men and negotiate on that basis.
I may be like a rat in a trap and so are my men, but we've been driven
to it and even a rat can give a bite.
Jim
Not if you don't go near the trap till the rat is dead.
Brown
I thought you were a white man. Goddam it, you're not going to sip
tea and count how many of us are dead, are you? Come on, bring your
crowd along and we'll give you an open battle. Or else, let us go. You
were a white man—once anyway—for all your talk of this being your
people, and your being one with them. What the hell do you think you
are? And who the devil do you think cares about you? What is it you've
found here that's so goddam precious you don't want us to come down
here and ruin your little racket? Is that it? You're two hundred to one
and you don't have guts enough to fight! We'll give you something to
remember before we're finished. You'll get us, yes, but we'll get a few
of you. You talk about me, making a cowardly set upon your unoffending
little people. What's that to me when I'm starving? But I'm no coward.
So don't you be one. You bring them along or somehow we'll manage to
send half your unoffending town to hell. We aren't going to go into the
jungle and wander around for the ants to pick us off one by one. Oh,
no.
Jim
You don't deserve a better fate. You've killed innocent men.
Brown
And what do you deserve? You that I find skulking here with your
mouth full of pious responsibility, innocent lives, of your infernal
duty. What do you know more of me than I know of you? How do I know
where you came from? I came here for food, do you hear? You may be
worse than I for all I know. What did you ask for when you came? We
don't ask you for anything but to give us a fair fight or let us go
back where we came from.
Jim
I could fight you now. And I would let you shoot me now and
welcome. This is as good a jumping off place for me as another, but it
would be too easy. These are my men in the same boat and I am not the
sort to jump out of trouble and leave them in the lurch.
Brown
Have we got to tell each other the story of our lives? Suppose you
begin? No? Well, I am sure I don't want to hear. So keep it to
yourself. I'm sure you're no better than I. A man doesn't go native for
nothing. You talk like you should have wings so that you needn't touch
the dirty earth. Well, it is dirty. And I haven't got wings. And
neither have you. I'm here because I was afraid once in my life. Want
to know what of? Of prison. A prison scares me. And I don't care if you
know it, if it's any good to you. I'll be my own master till I die. I
won't ask you what scared you into this hole, because I can see you
aren't about to tell. Well, you've found pretty pickings. That's your
luck and this is mine. The privilege to beg for the favor of being shot
quickly or else to be allowed to go starve in my own way. Frankly, I'd
just as soon fight. If you force us to fight, there's only one way we
have a chance, considering the odds. We have to shoot anything living
and fire everything right and left.
Jim
What about that man you killed?
Brown
Isn't that war? Besides, you got one of us. And you didn't have to
listen to him dying for hours, screaming with pain all night. At any
rate, it's a life for a life. Don't you understand, man, that when it
comes to saving your life in the dark, you don't give a damn who else
goes? One or a thousand.
Jim
Will you promise to leave the coast?
Brown
Of course, what else can I do?
Jim
And surrender your arms?
Brown
Surrender our arms? Are you crazy? Not until you come and take them
out of our hands. Do you think I'm insane? That and the rags I stand in
are all I've got I the world. I expect to sell my life dear.
Jim
I don't know whether I have the power—
Brown
Get you? You don't know whether you have the power? And you want me
to surrender my arms? That's rich! What do you mean, you don't have the
power? Why did you come down here if you didn't have the power? To pass
the time of day?
Jim
Very well. I'll give you either a clear road or a clear fight.
(Jim goes.)
Cornelius
Why didn't you kill him?
Brown
Because I told you, I could do better than that.
Cornelius
Never. I've lived here for years. I know.
Brown
You will see. I will get a clear road.
Cornelius
I could tell you something you would like to know. You did not kill
him and what will you get for it? A clear road.
Brown
That's what I wanted.
Cornelius
You might have had money from the rajah, besides all the plunder,
and now you get nothing.
Brown
You'd better clear out.
Cornelius
I could still tell you something you'd like to know.
Brown
Spill it. What's that?
Cornelius
I believe Dain Waris, Jim's friend, has led a party down river near
your boat, on one of the islands.
Brown
So he intends to betray me?
Cornelius
Oh, no. If he promises you safety, they will not attack. They're
just there to see you don't change your mind. He'll send a messenger to
warn them not to attack you.
Brown
Well then?
Cornelius
There is a passage up behind one of these islands.
Brown
So he thinks I will be harmless, does he?
Cornelius
Yes, he is a fool, a little child. He came here and robbed me and
made all the people believe in him. If something happened so that the
people no longer believed in him, where would he be? The man who is
down there on that little island is the very man who chased you up here
when you first came. His name is Dain Waris. He's the son of the
chieftain here. I could lead you so that you could sneak up on them.
You must be quiet, for at one place you pass close to the camp. Very
close.
Brown
Oh, we know how to be very quiet. Like little mice. Never fear.
(The scene shifts now to the council of war being held by Jim and
his followers.)
Jim
It is my wish that these men go free. I can speak to you, Doramin,
before all the others, for you know my heart as well as I know yours.
Its greatest desire. And you know also that I have no thought but the
people's good.
Doramin
But lives have been lost already.
Jim
Why lose more? You know, people, that your welfare is my welfare;
your loss is my loss, your mourning is my mourning. We have fought side
by side. You remember and I do not forget. You know this and you know
my courage.
(The crowd murmurs approvingly.)
Jim
You know I have never deceived you in the many years we have dwelt
together. I love the land and I love the people living in it with a
very great love. I am ready to answer with my life for any harm that
should befall you if the white men with the beards are allowed to go.
These men are evil doers. But their destiny has been evil too. Have I
ever advised you ill? Have my words ever brought suffering to you? It
is best to let these men go. It would be a small gift to me, whom you
have tried and found always true. I ask you to let them go.
Doramin
I say we should attack.
Jim
Then call in Dain Waris, your son, my friend, for in this I shall
not lead.
Doramin
What is it but the taking of another hill?
Jewel
If you are afraid, let me lead.
Jim
No.
Jewel
Let me go. This is unseemly. Are they not cruel, bloodthirsty
robbers bent on killing?
Jim
Let them be. Everyone shall be safe. Let them go because this is my
best wisdom which had never deceived you.
Doramin
It is best then. Let them go.
Others
Let it be as Tuan Jim wishes. Let it be so.
(The crowd breaks up.)
Jim
Well, there's no rest for us, old girl, while our people are in
danger. We are responsible for every life in the land.
Jewel
Yes, and that is why you should not let them go.
Jim
You're more a man than I am. If you and Dain Waris had your way,
all those poor devils would be dead.
Jewel
They are very bad men.
Jim
Men act badly from time to time without being much worse than
others.
(The scene changes. Jim is now talking across the river to Brown.)
Jim
You get the clear road. Start as soon as your boat floats on the
morning tide. Let your men be careful, for on both sides of the river
there will be well-armed men. You should have no chance except that I
don't believe you want bloodshed. (silence) You had better trust the
current while the fog lasts. (silence) If you think it worth your while
to wait a day down river, I'll try to send you some food. Bullock, or
what ever I can.
Cornelius (to Brown)
Perhaps you shall get a small bullock. You'll get it if he said so.
He always speaks the truth. He stole everything I had. I can see you're
the kind of man to prefer a small bullock rather than the booty to be
had here.
Brown
Shut up or I'll drown you in that damned little creek. I'll throw
you in.
Cornelius
Then, how will you have your revenge?
Brown
Am I to believe you could really find that back way you spoke of?
Cornelius
Easily.
Brown
And you're not afraid to go with me?
Cornelius
It will be a pleasure, honorable sir.
(The scene changes. It is the stockade. Tam-iTam enters, panting.)
Tam-iTam
They have killed Dain Waris and many more.
Jim
Shut the gates. What will we do about Doramin?
Tam-iTam
We have all the powder in Patusan. He cannot attack us.
Jim
What is the matter?
Tam-iTam
It is I, Tam-iTam, with tidings that cannot wait. This, Tuan, is a
day of evil, an accursed day.
Jim
What has happened?
Tam-iTam
Those evil men killed Dain Waris and all our party on the shore.
They took us by surprise. Cornelius led them by a roundabout route.
Jim
What has become of him?
Tam-iTam
Twice I struck, Tuan. When he beheld me approaching, he cast
himself violently upon the ground and made a great outcry, kicking, he
screeched like a frightened hen when he felt the point, then he lay
still and lay staring at me while his life went out of his eyes.
Jim
And the other white men?
Tam-iTam
They are gone, Tuan.
Jim
Give Tam-iTam something to eat.
Tam-iTam
Why do you stand here? Waste no time. Forgive me, Tuan, but, but—
Jim
What?
Tam-iTam
It is not safe for thy servant to go out amongst the people.
Jim
You shall eat here.
Tam-iTam
Time enough for eating later. We shall have to fight. The gates are
closed.
Jim
Fight, what for?
Jewel
For our lives.
Jim
I have no life. Who knows? By audacity and cunning, we may even
escape. There is much fear in men's hearts, too. Open the gates.
Tam-iTam
For how long, Tuan?
Jim
For all life.
Jewel
You must fight.
Jim
Time to finish this.
Tam-iTam
Tuan?
Jewel
Will you fight?
Jim
There is nothing to fight for, nothing is lost.
Jewel
Will you flee?
Jim
There is no escape.
Jewel
And shall you go?
(Jim bows his head.)
Jewel
You are mad or you are false. Do you remember the night I begged
you to leave me and you said you could not? That it was impossible,
impossible. Do you remember you said you would never leave me? Why? I
asked you for no promise. You promised unasked. Remember?
Jim
Enough, girl. I should be worth having—
Jewel
For the last time, will you defend yourself?
Jim
No.
Jewel
I will hold you thus, you are mine.
(Jewel faints.)
Jim
Come here. Take her to the shelter.
Tam-iTam
Tuan. Tuan, look back.
(Jim signs and goes. Jewel recovers.)
Jewel (screaming)
You are false.
Jim
Forgive me.
Jewel
Never, never.
(The stage darkens and then we see Stein, Marlow, Jewel and Tam-iTam
alone in Stein's palace.)
Tam-iTam
And that is the last we saw of him alive. He went to Doramin,
alone, unarmed. Doramin was seated on his throne staring at his son's
corpse which had been brought to him when Jim presented himself.
Doramin rose slowly and shot him dead.
Jewel
He left me. You always leave us for your own ends. It would have
been easy to die with him, but he would not let me. It was like
blindness. And yet, it was I who stood before his eyes. It was me that
he looked at all the time. You are hard, treacherous, without truth,
without compassion. What makes you so wicked or is it that you are all
bad? I will never forgive him. I will never cry for him.
Stein
Young hearts are unforgiving. The strength of life is in them. The
cruel strength of life. Very frightful. She can't understand me. I am
only a strange man. Perhaps you can make her see? Don't leave it like
this. Tell her to forgive him.
Marlow
Have you forgiven him?
(The light fades and Marlow reappears with the guests on the
verandah.)
Marlow
And so, that is all. That is how he died. A romantic end. All or
nearly all. For I met Brown one day a few years later. He was dying of
fever in a Portuguese prison. I told him what happened.
(Brown appears suddenly, a dying man, against a background of bars.)
Brown
So, I paid that stuck-up beggar after all! I could see directly I
set my eyes on him, what sort of a fool he was. He, a man! He was a
hollow sham. Why couldn't he say straight out: “Hand off my plunder?”
That would have been like a man. Damn him. Stuck-up bastard. He had me.
But he didn't have the courage to make an end of me. Not he. Letting me
off as if I wasn't worth a kick. Scorned by scum like him. He was just
a fraud. So I did make an end to him after all. I expect this fever
will kill me. But I shall die easier now. You may hear. I would give
you a five pound not if I had it, for the news you've brought me or my
name's not Gentleman Brown.
(The light fades on Brown.)
Marlow
Brown was horrifying. He had a demon in him. He was one of those
unconquerable spirits which, despite its evil, one cannot help
wondering at. As for Jim, he is dead. And frankly, I'm angry with him.
He gives up a living woman to celebrate a pitiless wedding with his
shadowy ideal of honor. Is he satisfied now, I wonder? We ought to
know, because he is one of us, isn't he?
A Guest
You are never satisfied, Marlow. Now you're angry with him because
he gave up his life for an ideal which you can't quite see.
Marlow
In his place, I should not have given up my life for my position
with those natives.
A Guest
Perhaps that's because you had a position somewhere else and he did
not. But you condemn him for his cowardice in jumping off the boat and
his heroism here?
Marlow
I take it that his heroism here was more the fear of losing face
than real heroism.
A Guest
But don't you see how paradoxical your reasoning is? On the Patna
you would have had Jim give up his life for no particular earthly good.
He would have saved no lives, accomplished nothing. That you admit
yourself. Was he wrong to jump?
Marlow
It was what happened before he jumped. It was what happened during
the emergency.
A Guest
Perhaps so. But if he had stayed and the ship had gone down, what
would he have been but a casualty? Who would have know his case but
himself?
Marlow
But that was all important.
A Guest
I'm not so sure. I fully agree with what he did. The freezing was
wrong, perhaps. But the jumping, no. If the ship was going down, as he
thought, he had nothing else to do. But here you would have had him
save his life?
Marlow
Yes. For that girl who was a real substantial woman. And for Stein
and also for me. There was where his obligation lay.
A Guest
But did he not also have an obligation to the image he had created
of himself? And to the world he had made? The civilization he had
brought there? I think he did just as well to sacrifice himself then
and not aboard the Patna. Perhaps it was for this destiny that his
cowardice saved him in one instance to allow him a greater heroism and
a more worthwhile death in another.
Marlow
I'm not sure I see it that way at all.
A Guest
Your position is to my mind rather mysterious. But that only proves
what I've always believed, that the essence of all morality ends in a
mystery.
Voices
He was a child.
He was false.
He was true.
I shall never weep for him.
(Sobbing is heard.)
CURTAIN